What You'll Learn
- Proper alignment for pliés and relevés in first position
- Techniques to maintain turnout by keeping heels forward and knees back
- How to execute straight-leg rises to build ankle stability and strength
- Maintaining upper body carriage with correct shoulder and elbow placement
- Safe calf stretching techniques to release tension after barre work
About This Video
Refine your technique and build a rock-solid foundation with this comprehensive 26-minute warmup barre class from Broche Ballet. In this session, we focus on the essential building blocks of classical dance: the plié, the tendu, and the relevé. Whether you are a beginner looking to understand the mechanics of turnout or an experienced dancer returning to the basics, this class provides the technical corrections necessary to elevate your practice.
The class begins with a series of pliés and relevés designed to activate the legs and find your center. Our instructor provides detailed feedback throughout, emphasizing the importance of keeping your heels forward and your knees back. This focus on turnout ensures that you are engaging the correct muscle groups and protecting your joints as you move.
You will work through variations in first position and explore one-legged rises to challenge your balance and stability. A specific target of 8 to 10 repetitions per series is encouraged to build the necessary stamina for more demanding choreography. As the exercises progress into tendus, you will learn to articulate through the foot while maintaining a straight leg and a lifted core.
Proper form is paramount; the instructor will guide you on keeping your elbows down, shoulders relaxed, and your head held high to maintain a professional ballet line. A recurring theme in this session is control. Even as the music speeds up, the challenge is to maintain precision and avoid letting the knees swing forward or the turnout slip.
To conclude the practice, we incorporate a deep calf stretch. This is a vital step in any ballet session, helping to increase flexibility and release the tension built up during the high-repetition relevé sequences. Join the Broche Ballet community and discover how focusing on these fundamental movements can transform your entire dance technique.
